Washington finds itself playing diplomatic catch-up as Beijing continues to deepen its influence across the Pacific. Case in point: Secretary of Defense Mark Esper’s late August trip to Palau was clearly designed to signal his intent to shore up once-vibrant U.S. alliances throughout the region. With visits by senior U.S. officials few and far between, Esper faced the formidable task of defending the administration’s interest as more than a momentary effort to compensate for years of neglect. On this front, Pacific island leaders have every right to be skeptical, believing that the United States only rediscovered the region after its belated recognition of China’s successful outreach.
Contrary to headlines about the importance of new Department of Defense investments in the region, America’s success in the Western Pacific will ultimately rise and fall based on positive political outcomes as much as it will by military ones.
